Trade
and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt and constitutional affairs secretary
Lord Falconer today published a White Paper on a new single equality body to
promote equality in the workplace.
The
Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) will be responsible for
challenging discrimination and will promote human rights.
Hewitt
said: "The CEHR will bring together knowledge and experience to overcome
and challenge all types of discrimination and will have a broader range of
tools to tackle the complexities of our diverse society."
The
new body will join together the existing equality commissions – the Commission
for Racial Equality, The Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disabilities
Rights Commission.
It
will take responsibility for new laws outlawing workplace discrimination on
religion or belief, sexual orientation and age.
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The
White Paper also announces a public sector duty to promote equality of
opportunity between women and men. The private sector will be exempt from the
duty.
